AMC Why do people love horror even when it frightens them? Psychological studies indicate that humans like to engage in activities they find stimulating, and consuming horror content can prompt both positive and negative mental and physical reactions. For some, watching a scary TV show may produce fear or anxiety, while for others, it may cause excitement. Horror shows also open the door to unique experiences and people that most viewers will never face in their own lives. In this way, horror provides a safe means of exploring dangerous situations and the darker side of human nature. Stacker looked at Metacritic data for all horror TV shows released in 2022 and ranked the top 15 by Metascore, a single rating that averages the most respected entertainment critic scores. Ties are broken internally at Metacritic, where numbers extend into decimals. Keep reading for a list of binge-worthy TV shows that will scare and delight horror fans. You may also like: 100 best sitcoms of all time #15. ‘Tales of the Walking Dead’: Season 1 AMC – Metascore: 60 – Release date: Aug. 14, 2022 “Tales of the Walking Dead,” the third in a growing list of spinoffs from AMC’s fan-favorite “The Walking Dead,” is an anthology set in the same zombie-ridden world. This first season is a quick watch, with each of its six episodes focused on different characters. The first episode sets a very different tone from what viewers typically see in “The Walking Dead” universe: Terry Crew and Olivia Munn play a comedically odd pair searching for potential romantic partners across the U.S. The series also weaves familiar characters in with the new, including Samantha Morton, who returns to play the villain Alpha in a mid-season episode. #14. ‘Shining Vale’: Season 1 Warner Bros. Television – Metascore: 61 – Release date: March 6, 2022 With a blend of dark comedy, jump scares, and social commentary–along with plenty of nods to Stanley Kubrick’s classic film “The Shining”–“Shining Vale” packs a lot into each 30-minute episode. Courteney Cox and Greg Kinnear star as Pat and Terry Phelps, a married couple who relocate from Brooklyn to rural Connecticut to strengthen their family after Pat has an affair. The deal they find on a beautiful old home in the town of Shining Vale might be too good to be true, though, as Pat begins to wonder if the house is haunted or if her mental stability is slowly unraveling. A few months after the show’s debut, Starz renewed “Shining Vale” for another eight-episode season. #13. ‘Little Demon’: Season 1 FX Productions – Metascore: 62 – Release date: Aug. 25, 2022 “Little Demon”–the FXX animated series about a 13-year-old who learns her father is Satan, making her the literal Antichrist–infuses twisted humor into the traditional coming-of-age story. Danny DeVito stars as Satan, who tries to gain custody of his daughter (voiced by DeVito’s real-life daughter, Lucy) while her mother (Aubrey Plaza) tries to build a normal life for them in Delaware. Despite condemnation of the content as “evil” and a petition to cancel the show, this first season drew positive critical reception and a long list of guest stars, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rhea Perlman, and Michael Shannon. #12. ‘From’: Season 1
The best horror TV shows of 2022 so far, according to critics
